System of dredging.



No. 785,008. 'PATBNTED MAR. 14, 1905.'.` W. H. LE C11-ARD. y f

kSYSTEM 0F DRBDGING.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 7, 1904.;

I A954 [i No.' 785,008. y PATBNTED MAR. 14, 19054.

w. 11. LE GHARD. SYSTEM 0F DRBDGING.

, APPLIOATIOI FILED APB. 7, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

NTTED STATES Patented March 14, 1905.

PATENT Critica,

WILLIAM H. LE CHARD, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM F. CAIN, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

SYSTEM OF DREDGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,008, dated March 14, 1905.

I Application filed April '7, 1904. Serial No. 202,104.

T all whom, t may concern:

Be itknown that LWILLIAM H. Lu CHARD, a citizen oi' the United States, and a resident of Atlantic City, Atlantic county, New Jersey, have invented an Improved System of Dredging, of which the lfollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of dredging or pumping sand from the bed of the ocean, and is designed to be worked from certain iixed points along the beach front, whereby I am enabled to build up behind suitable bulkheads constructed Jfor the purpose large areas of land available for building and other operations.

My invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings, iu which- Figure 1 is a diagram, on reduced scale, of the necessary plant for carrying my invention into eiect. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pumping and pump-controlling apparatus. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the ocean end oi' the pier, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the-land end of the pier.

The object of my invention is to reclaim the sand and spoil by dredging directly from the beach and the ocean immediately adjacent thereto, usually selecting an unused portion .of the beach, where the cavities made'by the dredging operations will be filled by the action of the tides.

In beginning an operation oi' the character to which my invention relates I iirst proceed to construct a suitable bulkhead 1 along the available portion of the beach front, behind which I desire to build up the land, and from this bulkhead I run a series of piers 2, about three hundred feet in length and about five hundred feet apart, which piers are preferably disposed at an angle to the bulkhead. On these piers suitable rails 3 are laid, forming a track for the pumping. structure 4. (Illustrated in Fig. 2.) This comprises the rotary pump 5, having a suitable inlet-pipe G Aextending from the same, which pipe is provided with flexible sections 7 and8 to increase its range of operation, and the inlet or suction section 9. The truck or carriage l0, upon which the pump structure is mounted and lmeans are provided for raising and lowering this pipe as desired. Extending rearwardly from the pump is the discharge-pipe 12, made up of a series oi' sections which may be connected and ldisconnected at will, depending upon the distance it is desired to convey the sand. The pumping structure is movable from end to end of the pier, and in order to make it operable at any point in the length of the same I provide a special form of driving means which will insure this condition. I mount on the bulkhead in line with the pier a suitable portable engine 13, which may bevreadily moved along such bulkhead, such engine carrying a driving-wheel 14, which in the present instance is grooved Jfor the reception of a wire power-transmitting cable 15. This cable extends from the engine-wheel to a wheel 16, carried by the pumping structure, thence rearwardly around the drivingwheel 17, mounted on the pump-shaft, and thence to a sheave or pulley 18, mounted in ixed'bearings on the end of the pier 2, from which it returns to the engine driving-wheel in a straight line. As may be readily noted, this arrangement provides means for driving the pumping structure at any point it may be located on said pier. The inlet-pipe is provided with valves 19 and 2O to permit inspection and the removal of any body too large to pass through .the pump. As it is necessary to prime the pump when commencing operations, which may be done by the aid of steam from the boiler 21, I provide a pipe 22, which extends the full length of the piers and has connections 23,whereby a iiexible tube 24', carried by and connected to the pump, may be attached, and by this means the necessary priming action can take place at any point in Y the length of the pier.

The truck or carriage 10, which supports the pumping apparatus, winding-drum, suction-pipe, derrick, &c., is moved in and out by means of the winch-head 25, which is fastened to the hoisting-drum and upon which several turns of a line 26 are taken, the opposite ends of which are fastened at each end of the pier, as indicated at 27 and 28, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3. When it is desired to move this truck to change the position of the pumping apparatus, it is only necessary to disconnect the means for transmitting movement to the pump and the hoisting apparatus, and then When the hoistingdrum is turned the Winch-head will be turned with it, and the truck may be moved as desired, in or out, as the case may be.`

I may u se an electric motor instead of a steam-engine and employ the boiler simply as means of supplying steam to prime the pump, and in some instances air under pressure from any suitable apparatus may be employed to prime the pump.

When beginning the operation of reclaiming sand according to this method or process, the pump is started close against the bulkhead and may be moved out to follow the tide, the suction end of the inlet-pipe being lowered as required in order to insure the entrance of as large a bulk of solid material as possible. After the possibility of one pier has been exhausted, an operation Which may take from four to eight days, the engine and pumping structure are moved down the bulkhead to the next pier, and the pier which has just been worked is left for the natural filling in by the tides. The second pier will be Worked in precisely the same manner as the rst pier, and by the time that its resources are exhausted the engine and pumping structure may be moved back to the first pier, Which in the mean- While has filled up with sand by the action of the tides. The piers are disposed at an angle, as shown in Fig. 1, and by preference the dredging takes place on one side only of the same, and the opposite side is braced by the struts and piling indicated in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a lixed pier extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus mounted on said pier, and means for discharging spoil from said pumping apparatus, said means having a discharging end which does not partake of the movement of the pumping apparatus.

2. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of afixed pier extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus at any point, and means for discharging the spoil from said pumping apparatus.

3. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a bulkhead, a pier extending from thev same, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, and means for discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping' apparatus is moved on said pier.

4, In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a bulkhead, a pier extending from the same, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, and means for discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping apparatus is moved on said pier, said means having a point of discharge behind the bulkhead.

5. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of afixed pier extending intc the ocean, a motive-power generator carried by the land end of said pier, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus from said motive-power generator as the former is moved back and forth, and means for 'discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping apparatus is moved on the pier.

6. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination ofa bulkhead, a pier extending from the' same, a motivepoWer generator carried by the land end of the pier, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus from said motive-power generator as the former is moved back and forth, and means for discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping apparatus is moved on the pier.

7. In asystem for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a fixed pier extending into the ocean,a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus at any point, and means for discharging the spoil from said pumping apparatus, said means having a discharge end which does not partake of the movement of the pumping apparatus.

8. In asystem for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a bulkhead, a pier extending from the same, a motivepoWer generator at the land end of the pier, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus from said motive-power generator as the former is moved back and forth, and means for discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping apparatus is moved on the pier, said means havng a point of discharge behind the bulkhea 9. The combination in asystem for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, of a series of piers extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus movable on each pier from end to end of the same and transferable from one pier to the other, a motive-power generator, driving means operated by the same for actuating the pumping apparatus at any point the latter may occupy in the length of the pier, a suction device carried by said pumping apparatus, and means for discharging the spoil as the pump is moved back and forth.

10. The combination in a system for exca,

vating sand or spoil from the ocean of a series of piers extending into the ocean, rails carried by said piers, a pumping apparatus movable on said rails from end to end of each pier and IOO IIO

transferable from one pier to the other, an engine, driving means operated by the engine for actuating the pumping apparatus at any point the latter may occupy in the length of the pier, suction apparatus carried by said pumping structure, andmeans for discharging the spoil as the pump is moved back and forth.

11. The combination in a systemfor excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, of a bulkhead,aseries of piers extending from said bulkhead, an engine mounted on the bulkhead, rails carried by said piers, a pumping apparatus movable on said rails from end to end of the piers and transferable from one pier to the other, driving means operated by the engine for actuating the pumping apparatus at any point the latter may occupy in the length of the pier, suction apparatus carried by said pumping structure, and means for discharging the spoil behind the bulkhead as the pump is moved back and forth.

12. The combination in a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, of a series of piers extending into the ocean, an engine mounted at the land end 0f said piers, rails carried by said piers, apumping apparatus movable on said rails from end to end of the piers and transferable from one pier to the other, driving means operated by the engine for actuating the pumping apparatus at any point the latter may occupy in the length of the pier, suction apparatus carried by said pumping structure, and means for discharging the spoil as the pump is moved back and forth.

13. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean,the combination of a fixed pier extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus.

movable on said pier, and a fixed motivepower generator from which said pumping apparatus is operated as it is being moved on the pier.

14. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a pier extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for discharging the spoil from said pumping apparatus, and an engine for driving said pumping apparatus as it is moved back and forth on the pier, the discharging means having an outlet end which does not partake of the movement of the pumping apparatus.

15. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a pier extending into the ocean, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for discharging the spoil from said pumping apparatus, and a fixed engine at the land end of said pier for driving said pumping apparatus as it is moved back and forth on the pier, the discharging means having an outlet end Which does not partake of the movement of the pumping apparatus.

16. The mode described of reclaiming sand or spoil from the bed of the ocean, said mode consisting in constructing a bulkhead with a plurality of piers extending therefrom into the ocean, excavating sand or spoil from the bed of the ocean by means of suction apparatus, first in proximity to one pier and then in proximity to anotherpier, and then discharging the excavated material behind the bulkhead,

'whereby the natural action of the waves will redeposit sand or spoil adjacent to each pier during the intervals between the successive removalsof the same.

17. In a system for excavating' sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a pier extending into the ocean, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier, a suction-pipe carried by the same, means for driving said pumping apparatus, means for raising and lowering said suction-pipe, and means for discharging the sand or spoil from said pumping apparatus.

18. The combination in a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, of a bulkhead, a series of piers extending therefrom, an engine mounted on the bulkhead, rails carried by the piers, a pumping apparatus movable on said rails from end to end of the piers, driving means operated by the engine for actuating the pumping apparatus at any point the latter may occupy in the length of the pier, suction apparatus carried by said pumping structure, means for discharging the spoil as the pump is moved back' and forth, means for moving said engine along the bulkhead, andprovision for moving the pumping apparatus from one pier to another. i

19. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a fixed pier extending into the ocean having a pumping apparatus movable thereon and operable on one side only of the same, and braces for the opposite side of' said pier.

20. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a bulkhead, a fixed pier extending from the same at an angle thereto having a pumping apparatus movable thereon and operable on one side only of the same, and braces for the opposite side of said pier.

21. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a fixed pier extending in to the ocean, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for driving'said pumping apparatus at any point, means for discharging the spoil as the pumping apparatus is advanced toward the end of the pier, and means for moving said pumping apparatus back and forth.

22. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, the combination of a bu khead, a pier extending from the sar-ne, a fixed engine carried by said bulkhead, a movable pumping apparatus mounted on the pier,means for driving said pumping apparatus from said fixed engine as the former is moved back and IOO IIO

izo

forth, means for discharging the sand or spoil as the pumping'apparatus is moved toward and from the end of the pier, and means for movingV said pumping apparatus back and forth.

23. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, a pier, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, a flexible tube for priming said pump, and a pipe conveying a priming medium carried by the pier.

Q4. In a system for excavating sand or spoil from the ocean` a pier, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, a iiexible tube for priming said pump, a pipe conveying a priming medium carried by the pier and connections for said tube carried by the pipe at intervals.

25. 1n a system Jfor excavating sand or spoil from the ocean, a pier, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, a carriage on which said pumping apparatus is mounted, a winch mounted on said carriage, means for driving the same, and a cord or rope xed at each end of the pier and passing around said winch whereby when the latter is drivenY the carriage will be moved back and forth.

26. In a system for excavating sand and spoil from the ocean, a pier, apumping apparatus movable on said pier, means for driving said pumping apparatus comprising pulleys mounted in tixed bearings at the ends or' the piers, a driven wheel carried by the pumping apparatus, a rope or cable passing over said pulleys to and around the Wheel carried by the pumping apparatus whereby the latter may be moved and driven at the same time, and means for driving one or' the pulleys carried by the pler.

27. In a system for excavating sand and spoil from the ocean, a pier, a pumping apparatus movable on said pier, a hoisting apparatus carried therewith, means for driving said pumping and hoisting apparatus comprising pulleys mounted in tixed bearings at the ends of the pier, driven wheels carried by the .pumping and hoisting apparatus, a rope orcable passing over said pulleys to and around the wheels carried by the pumping and hoisting apparatus, whereby the same may be moved and driven at the same time, and means for driving one of the pulleys carried by the p1er.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. LE CHARD.

Witnesses:

MURRAY C. BOYER, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

